The First Cultivator

What wasn't funny was loading the damn thing on the wagon. When the friends finally got it on the wagon, Azura was worried that it would collapse. The creature was wrapped several times in the interior so its entire bulk would fit, but despite their best efforts, part of its tail dragged behind them. It took the last of her mana to get the job done with Gerald's help. Azura had freaked out when one of the many underhands reflexively grabbed her. She was now exhausted, like her mana. At least Gerald let her ride the wagon as the rest of the group hauled the carcasses. It was fun. Like a conquering hero bringing back the spoils of war, which she soon realized she was. Yes, that seemed correct. Azura, the greatest champion of the kin that ever existed. She nodded her head at her thoughts. How could she be so amazing and yet remain so utterly modest? It was a mystery for the ages, one that bards would struggle with for eternity.

The sun was beginning to set as the secret tunnel came into view, followed by several rat-kin. Hamal had run ahead to get some help from his family. The adults paused as the cart's contents became visible in the low light.

"See, I told you!" Hamal said proudly, pointing to the carcass of the serpent.

"Gods below," one rat-kin said, his eyes wide.

"You killed this?" Another asked, looking at Azura.

"Well, everyone helped," Azura said, portraying her most modest yet regal pose. Perhaps resting one paw on the remains with her hands on her hips while her nose was so high in the air that it was a flight hazard for birds undermined her own words. Nah, it was fine.

"That's right!" Hamal said. "But she did most of it, and Gerald too, I suppose. However, I distract it. Threw some knives down its gullet. When you chop it up, grab them for me."

Azura leaped down from the cart and stumbled on the landing. Perhaps her exhaust was worse than she thought. Toren gently held her arm as he guided her down the tunnel. She barely noticed as the sudden fatigue made her vision swim.

Behind them, the rat-kin grunted as they sorted the kills. Azura's befuddled state lasted until she exited the tunnel.

"AZURA!" Her mother cried, which was far more effective at waking her up than a shot of pure adrenaline or about the same, considering how fast her heart was now beating.

"Mom?" Azura asked stupidly, then hid behind Toren from the level 127 death glare being cast her way. Scary.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE, YOUNG LADY!?" Oh, not good. Her mother only used the word "young lady" when she was super mad.

"She and her friends made a trip to the mana forest," Fatania said as she glared at Hamal, who shifted to hide behind Azura. In retrospect, Azura had not considered this part of the plan. Toren and Gerald were not spared, either, as their parents arrived. The stinky rats had squealed on them!

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The yelling continued until Hamal's family started bringing in the spoils. The mushroom didn't warrant much attention. Nothing more than a casual glance from the angry parents. The boar yielded shouts of surprise. The serpent silenced them all. It didn't help that it took six rat-kin to bring it in.

"Surprise…" Azura said weakly.

No one responded for a minute. "I think you'd better explain everything," Coralline said, her death glare resembling a miniature sun.

Azura swallowed and did just that, including her body magic. The explanation took several minutes and was interrupted by each child as they added their parts. The only thing she left out was her cultivation.

It was strange. Azura expected her mother to get madder and madder as the tale went on. Instead, the rage turned to consideration and concern and finally became intense pride.

Coralline trembled before squealing and hugging her daughter, swinging her around.

"The first kin mage!" She swung her daughter around and around, laughing. Azura forgot her fear and joined in the laughter.

"So, I'm not in trouble?" Azura said as her mother swung her around.

"What? Oh no, you are grounded for at least a month," her mother said conversationally as she set Azura down and hit her on top of her head. Hard.

Once the world stopped spinning and her headache became manageable, she looked up tears in her eyes.

"That won't work on me," Coralline said. "What you all did was stupid. If that was your plan, you should have told us. We could have had several adults on standby outside the mana forest with pikes and other weapons. You were lucky."

"You're not against the idea?" Gerald's muffled voice said. His head was firmly encased in a headlock by his father.

"Actually, no. The idea is good. You just need to be more careful," Alenina said as she sat on Toren.

"Well, Azura, these belong to you and your friends," Fatania said, gesturing to the mana beasts. With the other hand, she pulled on Hamal's tail, keeping him docile. "What are you going to do?"

"We want to feed our families for a few weeks with this," Azura answered.

"I don't think you understand what you have here," Fatania said as she gave her son's tail a quick yank.

"Ouch! Mom!" Hamal squealed.

"Oh, be silent. You're in so much trouble. Anyways, the mushroom is worth several gold coins," Fatania said.

Azura's mouth dropped open. Gold? Just for that?

"About 20 gold for the boar," Fatania added. "And about 500 gold for the snake thing."

The smuggling cove went silent. Fatania nodded. "Mana beasts are very valuable. If we sell everything, you could help feed all the kin in the city for several months. Is that what you want to do, or are you planning on keeping it for yourselves?"

Mages would describe kin as lazy, worthless beings whose only value was the work you could get out of them. However, even they would agree on one point. Kin stuck together.

"I want some of the meat for myself," Azura said. "Then I want to make sure my friend's families are fed. Use the rest to feed everyone. Do the rest of you agree?"

"Of course," Toren coughed out. His mother was still sitting on him, pinning him in place.

"hmmmhm," came some indistinct muttering from Gerald.

"That was a yes," Gerald's father offered. He refused to let go of his son's head.

"That's the plan," Hamal said, looking at his mother. "We planned that from the beginning. Can you let go of my tail now?" Hamal pleaded.

"No," Fatania said, dragging her son behind her as she walked.

With the prospect of her immediate demise gone, Azura's exhaustion caught up to her, and she swayed a bit before her mother caught her.

"Let's go home," Coralline said as she guided her daughter to the exit.

"Tallous, escort them home," Fatania said as a rather large rat-kin with a saber walked up beside him.

Coralline looked at the rat-kin and then nodded before taking her daughter home.

The trip back was uneventful. Soon, Azura was in her bed, falling asleep the second her head touched her pillow.